Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is one of the nation's most treasured ocean areas. It is home to a rich abundance of marine mammals, seabirds, and fish, as well as thriving invertebrate communities and diverse populations of kelp and intertidal algae. The high productivity of this region has supported humans since time immemorial. The cultures of four Coastal Treaty Tribes—Hoh Tribe, Makah Tribe, Quileute Tribe, and Quinault Indian Nation—have forged inseparable ties to the marine environment.

Learn more about Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary at olympiccoast.noaa.gov.

Map of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary along Washington's coast, showing Neah Bay in the north, La Push in the central coast, and Taholah in the south. — This graphic map illustrates the waters protected by Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in teal, located off the northwest coast of Washington state. The sanctuary extends along the shoreline and out into the Pacific Ocean. Three coastal towns are marked with arrows pointing inland: Neah Bay at the northern tip, La Push along the central coast, and Taholah near the southern end.

Quick Facts

Location: From Cape Flattery to the mouth of the Copalis River, on Washington's outer coast

Protected Area: Approximately 3,188 square miles

Designation: July 1994

Habitats:

Beaches
Rocky shores & offshore islands
Kelp forests & rocky reefs
Sandy seafloor
Open ocean
Deep sea

Key Species:

Dungeness crab
Northern sea otter
Ochre sea star
Orca (killer) whale
Razor clam
Salmon and steelhead

Sanctuary Highlight

A pod of orcas swims closely together at the ocean surface, their black-and-white bodies and tall dorsal fins visible against calm blue water

Read

Studying Southern Resident Killer Whales in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Did you know that one of the Pacific Northwest's most iconic marine mammals—the endangered Southern Resident killer whale—is shifting its summer home waters? Once most often seen in the Salish Sea around the San Juan Islands, these whales have increasingly been spotted further west near the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Multimedia

Our Planet is an Ocean Planet: Earth Is Blue.

No matter where you are, the ocean and Great Lakes are in your hands. We hope these images and videos from Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary inspire you to help care for our ocean and to spread the word that Earth isn't green—it's blue.

Illustrated poster of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary featuring an orca whale breaching the water's surface, surrounded by marine life including fish, starfish, sea urchins, and a crab. The background shows rocky islands, a bald eagle in flight, a traditional canoe, and a mountainous coastline at sunset.

the white side of a whale's tailfin sticks up out of the water

An overhang on Tatoosh Island covered with giant plumose anemones, Metridium farcimen

National Marine Sanctuary System

Safeguarding America's Premier Marine Places

From Washington state to the Gulf of America and from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Islands, the National Marine Sanctuary System protects 18 underwater parks spanning over 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. By investing in innovative solutions, we strengthen these iconic places to address 21st-century challenges while supporting America's commerce and tourism. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation’s iconic ocean and Great Lakes waters.